How many renters in Berkeley, CA pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Berkeley, CA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

55.7% (±3.1 points) of renting households in Berkeley, CA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

48.6% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 34.0% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 55.7% (±3.1 points)
Paying 35% or more: 48.6% (±2.8 points)
Median share of income: 34.0% (±1.9 points)

Rent as a share of income in Berkeley

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Berkeley	Alameda County	California	United States
Less than 15%	12.2% (±1.5 points)	12.4%	10.4%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	11.3% (±1.7 points)	12.8%	11.1%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	11.4% (±1.5 points)	13.0%	12.0%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	9.4% (±1.7 points)	11.3%	11.2%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	7.1% (±1.3 points)	8.6%	9.3%	9.2%
35% or more	48.6% (±2.8 points)	41.8%	46.0%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Berkeley against Alameda County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Berkeley	Alameda County	California	United States
Paying 30% or more	55.7% (±3.1 points)	50.4% (±1.0 points)	55.3% (±0.2 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	48.6% (±2.8 points)	41.8% (±0.9 points)	46.0% (±0.2 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	34.0% (±1.9 points)	30.2% (±0.5 points)	32.8% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$62,429 (±$4,037)	$87,302 (±$1,833)	$71,186 (±$298)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$2,133 (±$65)	$2,357 (±$16)	$2,036 (±$5)	$1,413

In Berkeley, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is higher than in Alameda County (50.4%).

It is not measurably different from California (55.3%).

It is higher than the national figure (51.1%).

In Alameda County, Berkeley ranks 3 of 19 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 509 of 1,067.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Berkeley

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Berkeley
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Berkeley	—	55.7% (±3.1 points)	—
Emeryville	1.9 mi	49.2% (±6.8 points)	Not measurably different
Albany	2.0 mi	45.8% (±5.7 points)	Lower
Kensington	2.8 mi	53.3% (±33.3 points)	Not measurably different
El Cerrito	3.7 mi	49.9% (±5.6 points)	Not measurably different
Piedmont	4.8 mi	9.9% (±8.9 points)	Lower
East Richmond Heights	5.5 mi	16.0% (±16.5 points)	Lower
Richmond	6.9 mi	56.0% (±4.0 points)	Not measurably different
Rollingwood	7.1 mi	60.4% (±25.4 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Albany, CA (45.8%), Piedmont, CA (9.9%), East Richmond Heights, CA (16.0%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Alameda County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	Ashland	60.6% (±8.0 points)
2	Cherryland	58.0% (±10.2 points)
3	Berkeley	55.7% (±3.1 points)
4	San Leandro	55.6% (±4.4 points)
5	Livermore	55.4% (±6.3 points)
6	Hayward	54.2% (±3.6 points)
7	Castro Valley	53.8% (±6.4 points)
8	Oakland	51.1% (±1.7 points)
9	Emeryville	49.2% (±6.8 points)

Showing 9 of 19 places in Alameda County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Berkeley

Are renters in Berkeley rent-burdened?

55.7% of renting households in Berkeley pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Berkeley spend on rent?

The median renting household in Berkeley, CA spends 34.0% (±1.9 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Berkeley city, California (place:06000, in state:06).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.